Accused drug driver crashed on day of court hearing

Peter Hardwick
Reporter
Peter started in 1976 as apprentice typesetter/comp and has 32 years with The Chronicle in three stints (in between working/holidays in UK/Europe, Brisbane and Melbourne). Entered editorial from comp room in 1996.

A TOOWOOMBA man on bail for a string of charges had allegedly been involved in a car crash while drug driving on the morning he was due in court, the city's Magistrates Court has heard.

James Scott Greenwood had a number of charges including disqualified driving and two counts of robbery mentioned before the court about 9.30am Thursday.

Those matters were adjourned for mention in the same court on February 2.

However, police claim just prior to that court mention, about 8am, the 21-year-old had been involved in a two-vehicle crash on Buckland St, Harristown, while allegedly drug driving and driving unlicensed.

He was also charged with failing to comply with the duties of a driver involved in a crash to leave his personal particulars.

Greenwood was picked up by police later Thursday and spent the night in the watch house before appearing at a special Australia Day sittings of the Toowoomba Magistrates Court on Friday.

He was not required to enter any pleas to the charges and duty solicitor Nathan Bouchier applied for bail on his client's behalf which was objected to by police.

Mr Bouchier said some of the charges his client was facing would have to go up to the District Court which would take some time and asked that his client be granted bail while on remand.

However, police prosecutor Sergeant Mike Robinson said it was alleged the defendant had committed further offences while on bail and submitted he was an "unacceptable risk" of committing further offences if granted bail.

Magistrate Kay Ryan agreed and refused bail, remanding Greenwood in custody with all charges adjourned for mention on February 2.